NECK PROBLEMS (Heart Chakra)

Neck problems are rarely due to any serious disease or damage, but they can cause problems elsewhere. A neck problem can sometimes cause hot, burning, shooting, or stabbing in your shoulders or into one or both of your arms. This can be due to nerve pain. Neck pain can also cause headaches. Any part of the neck such as muscles, bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, or nerves can cause neck problems.

Neck problems over a period of time can cause difficulty in your daily activities. They are often a result of neglected posture problems, degenerative disc disease or improper healing of a neck injury or arthritis. Sometimes just sitting in chairs all day, sleeping in uncomfortable positions, looking down too long especially on mobile phones or not stretching can be the cause.

Most often, problems associated with the neck area of the spine may cause pain levels from mild to moderate or severe which may or may not include pins and needles or numbness in the arms which can last from less than one hour to all day. This may result in poor or disturbed sleep, problems with carrying objects, housework, working, social activities and driving.

A good way to determine the extent of your problem and how it affects your life and if it is getting better, worse or staying the same is to monitor it. An often overlooked result of chronic or long standing neck pain is depression.

It is also common in some people that they don’t respond to physiotherapy treatment and they can become trapped in a cycle of pain, stress and depression.

Stress and anxiety

Neck pain is a frequent and common anxiety symptom. Anxiety often causes the pain itself through muscle tension. Anxiety may also have several related symptoms that eventually cause neck pain. For some, neck pain may also be a cause of anxiety, fuelling health fears or distress. Stress causes many different issues to the body, and each person experiences stress differently. When you suffer from anxiety, you constantly put your body through long-term stress, which can have both immediate and long lasting effects. When your body is in “fight or flight” mode, it generally means it is releasing stress hormones, especially adrenaline and cortisol that can create muscle tension. This only adds to your existing stress and/or anxiety.

The main cause of neck pain appears to be tension. During extremely anxious moments, your muscles contract and tense up This muscle tension especially targets the neck, shoulders, and back. The more anxiety you undergo, the more your tension may cause significant pain and discomfort.

Empty of love

If we are empty of love or not in a loving relationship, then we may become stressed and anxious which can then create tension in the neck. However, if we were to create self-love sufficiently to change the situation and resolve the problem we could then relax sufficiently neck tension.

Self-help

Massage - is one of the best ways to reduce neck pain. It can either be a self-massage or given by someone else.

Hot Bath/Shower – Heat can be very soothing to tense muscles as it forces muscles to relax, making it harder to hold tension. For some, hot water and/or steam can be soothing for anxiety.

Exercise - If it is not too painful, exercise can improve muscle tension symptoms. Jogging and stretching are especially helpful. When you regularly workout your muscles, it will become harder for them to tense up during times of stress.

Stretches:

Forward and Backward Tilt - This can be done while you're seated or on your feet. Keep your moves slow and smooth. Start with your head squarely over your shoulders and your back straight. Lower your chin toward your chest and hold for 15-30 seconds. Relax, and slowly lift your head back up. Tilt your chin up toward the ceiling and bring the base of your skull toward your back. Hold for 10 seconds, then return to the start position. Repeat the set several times. Do it every day.

Side Tilt - Do this while standing, with your feet hip-width apart and arms down by your sides. Gently tilt your head toward your right shoulder and try to touch it with your ear. Stop when you feel the stretch. Don't raise your shoulder. Hold the stretch for 5-10 seconds, then return to the start position.

Repeat on your left side. You can do several sets and work your way up to 10 repetitions. For extra stretch, put the hand on the same side of your tilted head on top of your head, and press lightly with your fingertips.

Side Rotation - You can do this while seated or standing. Keep your head squarely over your shoulders and your back straight. Slowly turn your head to the right until you feel a stretch in the side of your neck and shoulder. Hold the stretch for 15-30 seconds, and then slowly turn your head forward again. Repeat on your left side. Do up to 10 sets.

Shoulder Roll - This is best done standing up. Raise your shoulders straight up and move them in a circle going forward. Do it 6 times. Return to the start position, and make another 6 circles, this time going backward.